Albin Gray Wheeler

Maj. Gen. Albin G. Wheeler passed away on June 10, 2024. He was born to Harvey and Hattie Wheeler in Huntington, West Virginia on March 16, 1935. His father, Harvey, held dinner table conversations and would introduce topics to his sons and take the opposite view in order to debate and hone their skills on dealing with issues. He graduated from Huntington East High School and enrolled in Marshall College. He worked his way through college and joined the WV National Guard as a private. While at Marshall Albin served as Student Senate President, chief justice of supreme court, member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and five years in ROTC. He was named twice to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. He lobbied for Marshall to become a University at the state capital. His education includes BA, MBA, graduate course work at Harvard Business School. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Marshall and a Distinguished Alumnus from Marshall. Proctor and Gamble hired him knowing that he had a two year ROTC commitment. After graduation he married his long time girlfriend, Beatrice Thomas of Huntington, in 1958 and she became his biggest ally and advocate. After two years he saw an opportunity to contribute to the nation and remain in the Army. In January 1959 he reported to Fort Lee, Va. He was detailed to an armored division at Fort Knox, Ky and assigned as an executive officer and then to company commander. In 1962 he volunteered to go to Vietnam working with Vietnamese high command. The family moved to Bangkok,Thailand where he worked with the Royal Thai Army and went with them to Vietnam. He transferred back to Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, then to Hawaii as special assistant to Admiral John S. McCain ,Jr, Commander and Chief of the Pacific. He commanded 25th Supply and Transportation Battalion then attended Pepperdine University for MBA in Hawaii and left for Carlisle, Pa. and the Army War College. After a tour at the Pentagon he went to Fort Riley, Ks to command the 1st Infantry Division Support Command. He was assigned to Munich, Germany and Army/Air Force Exchange in Europe, North Africa and Middle East. After commanding the 7th CORPS Support Command, he returned to Washington and was President of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces for four years. His last assignment was to the World Wide Army/Air Force Exchange Service in Dallas, TX. After retirement in 1993 he worked as executive director in the Washington law firm of Arent, Fox, Kittner, Plotkin and Kahn. He was selected for Who’s Who in America and a member of the Quartermaster Hall of Fame and was actively involved as a founder and board director of the Society of Yeager Scholars at Marshall University. Awards include Defense and Army Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Legion of Merit with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. He is survived by wife of 66 years, Beatrice Thomas Wheeler, daughters Patrice Wheeler, Michelle Haenggi (Eric), Dianne Lessman, (Mark), grandsons Sean Fitzgerald, Eric Haenggi, Scott Haenggi And great grands Alannah Fitzgerald and Gray Haenggi and his brother Dr. John Wheeler from Gresham, OR. A Celebration of Life will be 28 October 2024 from 11am-3pm at The Fairfax Retirement Community, 9140 Belvoir Woods Parkway, Fort Belvoir, VA. Burial and graveside service at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors will be 29 October 2024 at 3 PM. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Society of Yeager Scholars, Marshall University Foundation, c/o Lance West, 519 John Marshall Drive, Huntington,25703 or website [https://give.marshall.edu/project/26398/donate?des_id=226511]

Tributes

Albin Gray Wheeler

March 16, 1935 - June 10, 2024